Magic flares out of me before I can contain it. Deep purple blooms spring to life in the clearing. Poisonous godsbane littering the ground around our entwined bodies. The anomalistic power recedes as quickly as it appeared, the absence pulling me from my carnal stupor.
Instead of fear or confusion, only pride is written across Cal’s face. He arches a perfect eyebrow as his eyes move from mycreations to me. This moment doesn’t feel like it confirms his suspicions. No, it feels like it confirms something much bigger.
Power of a different sort swells within me as I boldly declare, “I yield to no man.”
“And you never fucking will, princess.”
CHAPTER 18
Gathe, the capital city of the Ruby Region, is abuzz with activity. We are several miles from the city center, but still it’s crowded here on the outskirts.
There’s an unmistakable sound of hammering in the distance and large carts hauling timber travel towards the noise. A stark reminder of the war and how the people from the Sapphire Region fled here when the Synalians invaded their lands. Many of those refugees have no homes to return to, so they build here instead. Far away from the seas where ships sail, bringing with them the first waves of Drayca’s offerings.
Merchants with food carts line the road selling pastries and other baked goods to tradesfolk heading home for the evening as wagons filled with grain clamor down the cobblestone streets. Bells toll in the distance, marking the call to pray. All around us, people pause to offer a moment of murmured petition to Nobus before returning to their tasks. A lot of wasted breath, if you ask me.
Cal sits up straighter in his saddle. There’s an air of regality in his posture, shoulders back and arms tense on the reins. His mare leads our single file processional through the crowdedstreets. From this distance, I have a front row seat to watch as he slips into his persona, something he does with ease.
Everything about the Captain of Corinth is intimidating. In this form, Cal somehow looks larger, like a god statue in a temple instead of a man. Watching him, it’s easy to see how the stories of his battles took on a life of their own. He looks every bit the menacing death machine they claim he is.
The city residents pause again, this time to exchange whispers about the living legend passing through their street, quickly drawing the attention of a nearby group of soldiers. They halt, each stopping the task of loading wooden crates onto a wagon to salute their commanding officer. These men aren’t wearing the expected red uniforms of the Ruby Region’s infantry, but the gray and gold of Corinth.
These are Lord General Marks’ men. Cal’smen.
A loud whistle pierces the air, the captain’s head snapping toward a man in an officer’s uniform. He nods his head in our direction before walking around the corner out of view. To my surprise, Cal stops his horse abruptly and dismounts in the middle of the street.
“Take the horses to the stables,” he says curtly. “When you’re done, meet me at the inn. Don’t wander.”
There’s no warmth in his voice or light in his eyes as he speaks. Whoever this man is, he must be important. I nod tightly and take the reins from Cal’s outstretched hands, keeping my head low in an effort to draw as little attention to myself as possible.
I’m not far from the inn, but it takes me several minutes to lead both horses through the crowds of people who are milling about in the streets. The stables are packed. Horses of all colors and sizes crowd the small barn and a frazzled groom is chasing a cat from in between the stalls.
“Shoo, you’re spooking the horses!” he yells at the frightened animal.
“Excuse me,” I signal to him but he doesn’t hear me.
The small cat, a scrawny tabby, darts towards my ankles and I manage to grab her by the scruff of her neck as she runs past.
“Looking for her?”
“Oh thank the gods! Get that damned thing out of here!”
“Can I have a scoop of feed?” I ask, looking at the large bins lining the wall.
“What for?!” he demands.
“She’s hungry.” The groom stares at me flatly, unimpressed with my answer. “She’ll just come right back inside looking for food, you know?”
He lets out an exasperated sigh. “Fine, but you’re paying for it.”
He reluctantly moves to the bins and trades my horse's reins for a half-full scoop. I snatch it from his hands, careful not to spill the sparse amount and take both the cat and the feed outside.
“I will never understand cats,” I say, setting both on the ground. “Eat up.”
She purrs, twining her skinny body between my ankles as she starts to eat. Thin sides showcase her ribs, evidence of a life lived on the streets. At least I can provide her one meal that she doesn’t have to fight for.
Magic prickles my spine, urging me to squat beside the cat. I follow it, bending down behind the wooden barrels that line the side of the stables right before a husky voice shouts in my direction.
“We’ve barely been home six months and already he’s got us mobilizing again. What’s he afraid of? There’s nothing but mountains in Topaz.”
